
Reach for this book when your child feels like an outsider or complains about being bored and lonely in their current environment. It is the perfect remedy for a child who feels trapped by circumstances and longs for an extraordinary escape. Set on a desolate lighthouse island in 1935, nine year old Jon Jeffers finds his solitary life transformed when an ancient magician grants him the impossible gift of flight. Beyond the magic, this is a grounded exploration of the power of imagination and the deep human need for connection. It is highly appropriate for the 8 to 12 age range, offering a blend of historical realism and low fantasy. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's desire for independence while gently exploring the risks and responsibilities that come with newfound freedom.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThemes of intense childhood loneliness and social isolation.
The book deals with loneliness and social isolation in a direct, realistic manner. The magic element is secular and folklore-based rather than religious. There is a sense of peril regarding the physical danger of flight, but the resolution is hopeful and grounded in familial love.
A thoughtful 9 or 10-year-old who enjoys quiet, atmospheric stories and who might be struggling with a recent move or a situation where they feel socially disconnected from peers.
Read the scenes where Jon first attempts flight to discuss safety and the difference between fantasy and reality. The book can be read cold as it is quite accessible. A parent might notice their child retreating into daydreams, expressing frustration about having 'nothing to do,' or feeling like they don't fit in with the kids at school.
Younger readers (8-9) will be captivated by the 'how-to' of the magic and the wish fulfillment of flying. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the historical context of the Great Depression and the deeper metaphors for growing up and gaining independence.
Unlike many fantasy novels that involve complex world-building, this is a 'low fantasy' that places one impossible element into a very rigid, realistic historical setting, making the magic feel startlingly tactile and possible.
In 1935, nine-year-old Jon Jeffers lives on a rocky island off San Francisco where his father is the lighthouse keeper. Isolated from peers, Jon's world changes when he meets an ancient magician on the shore who teaches him the secret of human flight without mechanical aid. The story follows Jon's secret experiments with his gift, the wonder of his new perspective, and the eventual realization that magic has consequences and boundaries.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.